Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-28

tion) Chas Reed, Elizabeth Ann and Hon
ry Smith, Edward and Lucy Chase. Fan
ny Frost, John Burnham, Jane and Sopbin
Woodcock, Maria, Henrietta and Albert
Cross.
The school, under the old association had
varying degrees Of success, and it would he
impossible TO give now a correct estimate
Of the several teachers. Two or three. nj
least, are still living, John Brown among
them. He is remembered "a an excellent
teacher, and "reminiscences of his DAYS.
which Mr. Geo. H. Clark relates will be-
read with interest by many Of the "old
boys who cherish an aifectionate remep.
brance of the late Roswell Hunt. Roswell
il is needless 10 premise, was a bright and
SASSY" lad, and one day he was called up
by Mr.. Brown for some prank and told 10
sit on the platform at the masters feet.
Roswell replied with characteristic abrupt
ness that he "would be d il he would 81
whereupon Mr. Brown seized him by the
collar, "chunked' him down on the plat.
form, and then proceeded TO churn him up
and down, saying repeatedly IA he did so.
with his slow but effective emphasis, "R-os s.
ceH, sit still R-o-s-iceU, sit still ln-and
Roswell was for once humbled and sat still
During the years from 1881 to 1871 the
subject of graded schools began TO be dis
cussed in Brattleboro, and the Rev Addison
Brown was the pioneer in urging the adop-
ton Of the system. He was warmly sec
onded by Larkin q Mead and few Others
and finally in 1871 some public meetings
were held, which resulted in vote by the
district TO organize the village schools on
the graded plan. l.. @. Mead, G. Davis and
Joseph Steen were the committee TO carry
out the vote and effect the organization
The deed from DR.. Hail. conveying the land
to the district under the bond to the assnci-
alton already spoken of, bears date Nov.
10, 1871. Brattleboro was the first town in
the state to try the experiment of the grad
ed or Massachusetts," system
The first teacher under the new plan was
Moses Woolson, whom many pupils still
hold in grateful memory. A chapter Of in
teresting "reminiscences of this period might
be given, but lack Of space forbids. 1t
may be said in passing however that one
of the girls, Sarah Hollister Mrs b.
d. Harris) recalls with keen interest the
semi occasional numbers of the rival papers
The Mine and THE Contribution Box"
which used to be edited and read as an
exercise in English grammar and compost
ton, and Mrs Harris wishes whoever has
the blank book into which the contributions
were copied would produce it to recall to
the surviving members of Mr. WoOlson's
school the memories of those days
On our own part, we add, as we hasten
10 the close of this hasty and imperfect
chapter Of school history, that if the record
here given recalls other facts, or any cor
rections, III the minds of surviving pupils
or teachers, we wish they might be put in
writing and sent us, not necessarily for i'm
mediate publication, but as contribution
to local history for future use.
Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, whose address
at the dedication of the Brooks Library is
fresh in the public mind succeeded Mr.
Woolson, and after him came |. l.. Clark
Mr. Abbott, Mr. Sears Mr.. Southgate, Mr.
Miles Mr.. Bacon and Mr.. Howard. The
! latter was the immediate predecessor for
one year of Mr. Bingham
During Mr. Bingham's first term he had
school of about 80 pupils and one assist
ant teacher-Miss Josephine Hyde Miss
Scott was then i'll charge of the Intermedi-
ate school. Miss Stella Elmer followed Miss
| Hyde as assistant, and after her came Miss
Mary futile, Miss Rebecca Crosby, Miss
Anna Blanchard and Miss jeanette Howe.
who has done long and faithful service in
the school. Then the needs of the school
| increased, and a second assistant was re
| quired. In the list since that time have
been Miss Helen Ross, Miss Mary Walker,
Mrs. Elmer, Miss Preston, Miss Morse and
the Misses Clark.
When Mr.. Bingham took charge Of the
school in 1868 the school building was in the
| form i'll which it was originally built, with
the High school on the upper floor and the
! Grammar Tor intermediate department as
it was then called on the lower floor. The
desks were then of the old fashioned kind,
with seats for two Soon after, modern
seats and desks were introduced then the
wings were added, 10 accommodate the
growing number of pupils and finally the
extension was built in the rear. In 1884
the old building gave place to the present
one, which is one of the ornaments of Brat
tleboro as well as one of the largest and
most perfectly appointed school buildings
in the state